The production ran out of money before shooting was finished and the final scene was heavily padded with flashback sequences in an effort to lengthen the film to a respectable runtime
According to interviews with director William Fruet and some other people involved in movie at the time when it was released, longer version of the ending fight between Oliver Reed and giant snake was planned and filmed, it included parts where he stabs the snake and snake swallowing his arm but due to the problems with effects the scene was not finished and had to be cut. Scene where sailor who is bitten by snake gets his arm swallowed by it was also cut, and there was also a nightmare sequence in which some victims of the snake show up covered with gory wounds. Director said that he shot some additional violent scenes for the Far East versions of the movie but none of these sequences were ever reported to be included in any version.
Filming began in September 1981 but not released for another two years. Oliver Reed also did another killer snake film in 1981 called "Venom".
Oliver Reed was arrested for a barroom brawling incident in Stowe, Vermont, just after filming ended in October 1981. He pleaded no contest to two charges of simple assault and was fined $1,200. In a plea bargaining arrangement worked out by the actor's attorney and the Caledonia County prosecutor, charges of unlawful mischief and attempted simple assault were dropped. Reed agreed to give $1,000 to the Stowe Rescue Squad, a voluntary ambulance operation. The bar's co-owner said that Reed paid $250 for furniture and glassware broken in the melee.
Loosely based upon the novel "Death Bite" by Michael Maryk and Brent Monahan.